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kill Gwenwynwyn here. It was the first thing that came to my mind. I say to you now, having time to think on it, that she would." |
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Dismissing the problem of Lady Alinor for one nearer his heart, Salisbury next asked, "Have I your leave, Lord Llewelyn, to put some questions regarding these four hundred men?" |
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"You will know what I know in two minutes if you seek in my tent. You will find there the king's letter which brought me here." Gwenwynwyn grinned wolfishly at Llewelyn and Salisbury. "You have won this battle, my lords, but you may have lost the war. The king will not be pleased at what has happened." |
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Before Salisbury and Llewelyn were engaged in reading John's letter, Ian was at the castle gates. He did not need to demand admittance. His horse and shield had been recognized by Alinor's men who patrolled the walls now, and the gate swung open for him. Scarcely checking his pace, he rode through, across the bailey, flung himself from his mount, and entered the keep. In the doorway of the great hall, he stopped, breathing scarcely less hard than when he had been fighting on the walls. |
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"Madwoman!" he bellowed, "crazy bitch! How dared you ride out on a battlefield. What do you here?" |
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From the chair in which she had been sitting beside the fire, Alinor leapt to her feet. "Traitor! Sneaking dog! Thief!" she shrieked in reply. "I thought I came to save you. I find instead that I am barely in time to save my lands." |
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Ian was struck dumb, not so much by what Alinor had saidhe had not had time for the meaning of her words to sink through the roiling mixture of weariness, rage, and relief into his understandingbut by the fact that she had raised her voice to him. It was the first time in seven months that she had done anything except offer silence, sweet reason, or meek apologies. He strode |
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